Formula 2 CEO Bruno Michel has admitted that Colton Herta’s first season in the championship has been more difficult than he expected.

Herta made the move to F2 after winning nine races in eight years while racing in the American IndyCar Series. The 26-year-old has found it difficult to adapt to life in F2, and is currently only 19th in the standings, with 26 points from 24 races.

Michel believes the change in environment may have played a part in his struggles, but hopes the American can finish the campaign struggling.

Herta 'underestimated the difference in working environment' in F2

Speaking at a media briefing where GPblog was present, Michel said he has has been surprised by how 'difficult' it has been for Herta in Formula 2. Herta has ran in several FP1 sessions with the Cadillac Formula 1 team this season, however given his performances in F2, it currently looks unlikely that he will make the jump up to F1 any time soon

“It has been more difficult than I thought it was going to be, because Colton is a very strong driver — there’s no doubt about that,” Michel said. “He and we maybe underestimated the difference in working environment.”

Michel said Herta had produced some good races, but pointed to qualifying as an area where he had faced difficulties. F2 drivers have limited time to find their pace, which Michel described as part of the preparation for Formula 1.

"I really hope that he's going to finish the season on a high, we're still hoping for that," he said. "He had some good races as well, he had more difficulties in qualifying and maybe that's also one of the limits we were having because you need to in 30 minutes come up with the right time immediately."

He added: "You have very limited track time, but that's also the way we prepare drivers for Formula 1, because in Formula 1 you have limited track time as well."

Also at the media briefing, the F2 boss said he was adamant that the season will conclude in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.